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Rent control advocates to bring petition to San Diego leaders

Mark Saunders

2:20 PM, Apr 17, 2018

6:34 PM, Apr 17, 2018

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A group of San Diegans fighting for rent control is bringing their battle to city leaders this week.

RICHMOND, CA - JUNE 15: A "for rent" sign is posted in front of a house on June 15, 2012 in Richmond, California. According to a report by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, the tepid real estate market could see a turnaround with the price of rental properties surging and vacancies dropping from 10.6 percent in 2009 to 9.5 percent last year, the lowest level since 2002. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Justin Sullivan

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SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A group of San Diegans fighting for rent control is bringing their battle to city leaders this week.

The group San Diego Tenants United is calling for city leaders to pass a rent control ordinance to curb the skyrocketing cost of living in San Diego.

In a letter to San Diego's Smart Growth & Land Use Committee Chair Georgette Gomez, the group requested a new rent control ordinance and amendment to San Diego's Just Cause Eviction ordinance to prohibit landlords from increasing rents or displacing families.

The group believes a permanent ordinance and amendment will slow the rate of increase in local rents and stifle the local housing crises.

"This can make real, effective changes that can truly fight displacement and gentrification," the letter to Gomez reads. "All the cities across California who have passed rent control have done so because they know that it's a crucial part of the solution to our housing crisis."

Members of San Diego Tenants United plan to gather at San Diego City Council on Wednesday to protest and present their petition to leaders.

Rent control opponents also plan to be at the committee meeting. Members of the San Diego County Apartment Association say rent control would hurt the livelihoods of many landlords and property managers.

"Delivering units is what we really need to do, it's the only way we believe we can build ourselves out of this crisis," said Christian Davis, president of the association. "We need to push politics aside and do what's right for neighborhoods, build housing."

Davis says many landlords must raise rent to cover their rising costs, including wages, goods, and utilities.

"Add rent control on top of that and many of our members could run the risk of, can't afford to be in business any longer," said Davis